Sevylor Inflatable or Plastic kayak

Thanks for that imput Royce,

I wasn't sure if the inflatables were harder to paddle than the minnow types, but i know if you fall off a inflatable you can get back on it where with the cockpit types you can't i don't think
Another question is whether the Canadian type be easy and better to paddle in the water than the minnow kayaks or are they the same

The minnows are little bathtubs. The single Sevylor is similar, but heavier and more effected by wind.

With a bit of proctice, you can get back into a Minnow. It has such a large cockpit, but of course you are likely to have swamped it, so it's full of water.

The Sevylors are self baling if you remove the plugs in the bottom and unsinkable. Extremely safe and let you go down raging white water. I have never used mine in the sea, but I think they would be great fun..

'Canadians' are completely open canoes. Usually two person and therefore longer. The longer the easier to paddle forwards, but harder to turn. Swamp easily but very stable.

The most common are the rotomold plastics. They are very heavy. Lighter fibreglass ones are often sleeker and better to paddle. I have two of the rotomolds and they are very tough. Used them heaps.

A Minnow and a Canadian are completely different things. I have often carried each on roof top and trailer... the Minnow you can pick up with one hand and throw onto a roof. The Canadian canoe really needs two people to lift..

Sounds like you need to go for a couple of paddles first... not in Gippsland are you? We could go out with a few to have a play!

I've got enough kayaks and canoes to handle.... about 17 bodies!

Now that is just stupid... I'm just a mug paddler, but over the years seem to have picked up 'bargains' around the place.

We only went paddling three times this Summer.

Cheers Royce

Hi Royce

How have you found the gumotex brand? I looked at some of these previously and was reasonably impressed versus the Sevylors.

Although I do find them a little cumbersome versus my K1 and racing ski...........but good for outback travel.

I love my Gummotex! We have something on the Thomson River here called "Chinaman's Bend" or "Horseshoe Bend" where miners tunnelled through a mountain to divert the river.

The plan was to get at the bend once it was dry to retrieve the alluvial gold. Don't think it worked out, but there is now a tunnel about 100m long straight through the mountain. The river runs through and...

I TOOK MY GUMMOTEX THROUGH!....... Whooo Hooooo. Got the pics to prove it!!

I don't think I could have done it with any other craft except a lilo.

I carried the deflated kayak in in a backpack, inflated it and then went through.... fantastic.

They track better than the Sevylors. That is with one paddler. When you have two on board they are pathetic. They do however have a rudder assembly available which may work.

The biggest negative is that no matter how well inflated, I find that it's hard to keep a good upright seated position in them.

Absolutely different craft to the K1s.... I bought a K1 with the idea of making a fool of myself in the Blue Rock Classic.. paddling section..... but made a fool of myself the first time I tried it out..

DAMN! How do you stay up in those things!

Cheers Royce

I don't always, I've missed a couple of starts after getting caught up in the wash at the start of a race. Practice!

Mind you I normally only race it on very flat water....done the hawkesbury Classic in the Ski a couple of times, maybe this year again.

Cheers

and depending on your setup, it can be a lot easier to shove a couple of plastic kayaks on the roof than fold up and then reinflate the inflateables.. they are just as heavy and still take up space.

They are pretty much aerodynamic too..

Hey they look neat, might have a look this weekend

I did have a look at this model up at Lonsdale , they say this would be the most safest in the water and not that hard getting in or out , but I haven't tried it yet, did you find it easy to paddle and did the wind push you to the side alot

I haven't been in a kayak/canoe that didn't get pushed around a bit by the wind...

This one has small plastic fins (?strakes) along the bottom of the hull that give it some directional stability. Plenty of space for storage and very stable - the kids usually end up using it as a diving platform!

The sides are quite high and I was concerned the kids might not be able to reach over to get the paddles in but my boy was paddling with me when he was 6 without any dramas.

The place at Lonsdale wants $800 for the Colorado double I do like it

Whats it like to get back in if you fall off it